Unit(s): JG 51, JG 26
Theatre(s): France, Battle Of Britain, Western Front
Combat Debut: 39/40 Western Front
Decoration: The Knight’s Cross
Kills: 101
All Western front including 20+ France and Battle Of Britain
Total Sorties: 307
Born: July 27, 1915, Ingolstadt
Passed: 1961, Böbing, Upper Bavaria
January 1943 Priller became Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26. By now the increasing US bomber offensive was putting pressure on the Jagdwaffe in the west, and JG 26’s losses rose alarmingly through 1943. He has become famous because of the publicity regarding his Fw 190A-8’s single strafing pass attack on the Normandy Beaches on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), accompanied by his wingman Heinz Wodarczyk. This act was first brought to world attention by the book, and then the film, The Longest Day, which show this, the only known and documented daylight attack by the Luftwaffe against the Normandy landing.
Oberstleutnant Priller brought down his 100th claim in July 1944 (a USAAF B-24). On New Year’s day 1945, he led JG 26 in the ill-fated mass attack on Allied airfields, Operation Bodenplatte (an operation that saw his long-serving wingman Heinz Wodarczyk killed). Later that month Priller was appointed to the staff job of Inspector of Day Fighters (East).
Josef Priller flew 307 combat missions to claim 101 victories. All his victories were recorded over the Western Front, and consisted of 11 USAAF heavy bombers, 68 Spitfires (the highest Luftwaffe ace’s tally for these aircraft),11 Hurricanes, 5 medium bombers, and 5 USAAF fighters.
Post-war “Pips” Priller managed a brewery business, and he died suddenly in 1961 from a heart attack in Böbing, Upper Bavaria.